Composite metal structure



Nov. 26, 1929. GOERTZ 1,736,968

COMPOSITE METAL STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 25 1926 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 26,1929 UNITED STATES P ATENT OFFICE ALBERT GOEBTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,ASSIGNOR TO TRI-LOK COMPANY, 01' PITTS- BUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ACORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA oomrosr'rn METAL srnucrunn Application filedOctober 25, 1926. Serial No. 143,914.

This invention relates to composite metal structures, and is hereindescribed as applied to a grating, although it has numerous otherapplications, as, for example, in building construction. v

It frequently happens that a number of grating sections are employedalongside one another in order to provide a grating structure of thedesired area or shape, and difliculty has been experienced in holdingthe gratings so that they will not creep or shift relative to oneanother. This creeping or shifting is decidedly objectionable assometimes the ends of girder bars in one section rise slightly above thetop of an adjacent grating section, thus causing accidents.

I provide a tie member which engages the end sections of the gratingbars, thus securely holding the adjacent grating sections in the desiredrelationship. Preferably, the ends of the bars are slotted so as toreceive the tie member, which may be of any shape. An angle has beensuccessfully used, although a channel, a T, an Lbeam, a flat plate orother forms of tie members may be employed, if

desired.

An important feature of my structure is that the tie member may be usedas a supporting member for the grating sections. If this is the case, itis extended beyond the grating sections so as to provide a bearing onthe foundation or other supporting structure. It has been found byactual test that the parts are so securely locked together thatdeflection of the tie member can only occur with a correspondingdefiection of all of the grating bars. Because of this fact, it ispossible to effect material economies in the Weight of the sectionsemployed. If desired, the tie member may extend for only a portion ofthe 111110- tion line.

If an angle or a channel is employed, it is preferably so placed thatthe recessed portion of the angle or the channel is downward. Thisarrangement is perfectly satisfactory if the tie member is considered asa beam and at the same time it prevents the collection of dirt.

The friction between the parts will be generally sufficient to preventany shifting of the grating sections lengthwise of the tie member, butin certain cases it may be desirable to deform such tie member ormembers so as to positively insure against such shifting. This may bedone by making the slots of different cross-sectional shape than thecorresponding portion of the tie member and permanently deforming thoseportions of the tie member which enter the slots during the assemblingoperation. It may alsobe done by deforming the portions of the tiemember which lie between the grating bars,-or separate bars may besecured to the tie members for the purpose of preventing lateralshifting. If desired, the gratings may be supported by other means, suchas beams under the line of unction of the gratings, and clips extendingfrom the tie member to the supporting beam may be employed. These clipswill also be- IIII of Figure 1;

Figure '3 is a view to enlarged scale taken on the line IIIHI of Figure1;

Figures 4 and 5 are views correspond' 1 to Figure 3, but showingmodified forms 0 tie members;

Figure 6 is a view taken on a section parallel to a tie member such asshown in Figures 1 to 3 and illustrating one way of preventing shiftingof the grating sections lengthwise of the tie member; and

Figure 7 is a vertical section through a grating structure employing aseparate sup porting beam.

Referring, first, to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, there is shown a pair ofadjacent grating sections indicated generally by the referencecharacters 2 and 3. These grating sectionsmay be of any desired type,as, for example, the ating shown in the patent to Harry Nagin, No.1,611,316, dated Dec. 21, 1926. Said grating comprises girder bars 4having crooked slots formed in the upper edge thereof. Cross bars 5 areforced into'these slots under pressure sufficient to permanently deformthose portions of the cross bars which lie in the slots and thus lockthe cross bars and the girder bars together and form a permanent gratingstructure.

In Figure 1 corresponding girder bars of adjacent gratings are shown aslying in the same straight line.

The end sections of the girder bars 4 are provided with slots atsubstantially 45 degrees to the vertical. These slots are oppositelyinclined in girder bars of different grating sections, so that they lieat substantially right angles to one another. A tie member 6 is threadedthrough the slots so as to securely hold the grating sections in desiredrelation, as best shown in Figure 3. It will be understood, of course,that those ends of the grating sections which are remote from the member6 will be suitably supported so as to prevent endwise shifting of thegrating sections. Such supports may comprise other angles 6, as shown atthe left in Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2, the angle 6 is shown as having an end portion 7extending beyond the grating sections and supported in a foundation 8.With this construction no additional supporting beams are required. Thisis highly desirable in that a material increase in head room under thegrating may be had and the construction is simplified. It has been foundby actual test that when a structure of this character is loaded, theangle 6 cannot deflect until the girder bars 4 are correspondinglydeflected, and as a result only a comparatively light angle need beemployed.

Figure 4 shows a modified structure wherein similar parts have beengiven the same reference characters with an a suifixed thereto. In thisform of the invention a channel 9 is employed instead of the angle 6.The slots are, of course, correspondingly shaped.

Figure 5 shows still another modification, and in this form of theinvention similar parts have been given the same reference characterwith a suffixed thereto. In Figure 5 there is shown a substantially flatplate 10 which fits into slots having curved end portions 11. The plate10 is permanently deformed at those portions which fit into the slots,thus locking the girder sections together. With this arrangement thegrating sections cannot shift endwise of the tie late 10, as will beapparent. The same so eme may be employed with other sections, as, forexample, the angle shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 6 shows another way in which endwise shifting of the gratingsections may be positively prevented. In this form of the invention anangle 6 is employed and it supports the girder bars of adjacent gratingsecs tions. The girder bars for one section are indicated at 4 and thosefor the other grating section are indicated at 4. It will be noted thatin this form of the invention the girder bars of adjacent gratingsections are offset with respect to one another, but it will beunderstood that all of the girder bars termi nate substantially in theline of junction of the two gratings.

The angle 6 is bent downwardly between adjacent girder bars, asindicated at 12, so as to prevent endwise shifting of such girder bars.

In Figure 7 there is shown a construction somewhat similar to that ofFigures 1 to 3 but emplo ing a separate supporting beam 13. In this formof the invention parts corresponding to similar parts in Figures 1 to 3have been given the same reference character with an e sufiixed thereto.Clips 14 are secured to the angle 6 by bolts 15. These clips haveportions 16 which extend beneath the upper flange of the beam 13 so asto hold the grating in place. These clips are preferably of sufiicientwidth to substantially fill the space between adjacent girder bars andthus prevent endwise shifting of the gratings.

The invention has applications other than in connection with ratings andmay be used, for example, in ma ing a metal framing for a buildingfloor. When it is desired to make a building floor, or for that matterany other structure, in accordance with my invention, the supportingbeams will be generally threaded through openings formed in the endportions of the floor beams and the floor beams will in turn beinterconnected. If desired, openings may be provided intermediate theends of the beams for the reception of supporting beams. This feature ofthe invention may, of course be applied to gratings. A material savingin weight may be effected by reason of the fact that the supporting beamis threaded through openings in the other beams, and therefore all ofthe members must deflect together.

I have illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention andcertain modifications thereof, but it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to the form shown as it may be otherwiseembodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: Y

1. A grating structure comprising a pair of adjacent grating sections,and a common tie and supporting member therefor extending beyond a sideboundary of the grating.

2. A: grating structure comprising a pair of adjacent grating sectionshaving slots therein, and a combined tie and support for both thegrating sections fitting in the slots and extending beyond a sideboundary of the grating.

5 3. A grating structure comprisin a pair of grating sections eachhaving gir er bars, the girder bars in the gratings terminatingsubstantially in the junction line of the grating sections and havingslots in their end portions, and atie member lying in the slots.

4. A grating structure comprisin a pair of grating sections each havinggir er bars, the girder bars in the gratings terminating substantiallyin the junction line of the gratl ing sections and having slots in theirend portions, and a tie member lying in the slots, the tie member beingadapted to act as a supporting beam.

5. A structure comprising a pair of reticu- 2 lated grating structures,each of a rigid nature and having spaced apart girder bars, the girderbars having openings therethrough, and a beam threaded through theopenings in the girder bars, the beam being adapted to support thestructure.

6. A composite structure comprising areticulated grating of a rigidcharacter, the grating having spaced apart girder bars, the girder barshaving openings therethrough,

and a supporting beam threaded through the openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set -myhand. ALBERT GOERTZ.

